I too enjoy eating pizza from Buona’s, and I actually eat there every once in a while (usually if I have the day off and I have errands to run). On one hand the building is, in my opinion, a dump. It’s out of character for the downtown and clearly was built more with utility than the aesthetic in mind. That’s not a crime, and the food is excellent, so up until now who cared? However that side of Lackawanna Avenue looks horrible and given the proximity to the Hilton, I can see the need for redevelopment. That said, this place is a Scranton institution (I am sooooo old that I remember as a kid going to Buona’s when they were in another building on Lackawanna Avenue), so I too strongly urge the Mayor to come up with some kind of agreement whereby the business can stay downtown AND the block can be redeveloped. Will this mean doing more for this business than what has traditionally been done for others facing condemnation via eminent domain? Probably yes, but then again difficult times often call for creative solutions.

 

Free Speech does't require a multi-paragrah disclaimer Mr. Pilchesky.

My sympathy for Buona ends at the end of the dilapidated block. I remember that dude paying off on the Joker Poker machines, letting all kinds of bad crowds hand out, doing whatever he could to make a buck. Fair enough.

Now someone else needs to do whatever they can to make a buck. No one is keeping out of the downtown, and he should be paid a fair price for his building, but gimme a break. If his pizza is so damn good he can sell it anywhere downtown where there's no parking and no foot traffic.

The needs of the many ourweight he needs of the few, or the one. He can and should stay downtown, but his building and it's little parking lot (which is what he really doesn't want to give up) can go elsewhere.

Sorry, kind of heartless, I know, but too bad. I make no apologies. I've had enough of the Dalkowitz's and Ufbergs of the world holding up progress.

-- Edited by Art Gordon at 20:05, 2007-01-28

This pizza is the best pizza I have ever eaten and if it ain't dripping orange grease down to your elbow, it ain't pizza.  I would love to see them stay downtown (if they can't, they can move in next door to me!!!) I can see how they would feel singled out, but fellas, come on - you CAN sell pies anywhere downtown.  Take the new location and run with it!

I, too, remember the old building and the two young Italian brothers flipping pies. 
You'd call in an order and they'd answer: 
"Bone-a Pete's" 
You'd place your order and they'd reply: 
"tenna min-oots"

Very true Sam... Whats next someone's house

Not so fast fella, I'm feelin' a bitchslap coming on ...


-- Edited by His Girl Thursday at 21:53, 2007-01-29

I can't argue against your point Tripp Park/Sam. Yes, I think the Buona Pizza building looks horrible, but I'm also not comfortable with any government (at any level) exercising that amount of power. So let's all hope that calmer heads will prevail and that there will be some kind of reasonable settlement. Besides, how many actually want to hear Janet Evans continue to drone on about this, week after week? Another five minute Buona's tirade from her and blood will start to trickling out of my ears.

Free Speech does't require a multi-paragrah disclaimer Mr. Pilchesky.

Yes guys janet does get a little long winded, the week she was not at the meeting(birth of her grandchild...congrats to that J.E ) the meeting was cut short by 90 min.

LusOnlyVoice wrote:

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I can't even imagine what it must be like to live in the head of one of these nuts for even a moment. Can any of you?

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Roomy. Very, very roomy. I'd get used to the cavernous echoes and the cobwebs eventually.